Iron Ore (Hope Downs) Agreement Act 1992

the Company is or is entitled pursuant to transfers to be the holder of mining tenements comprising Areas A, B and C (as hereinafter defined) within which iron ore of tonneages and grades sufficient to warrant economic recovery and marketing have been established;

the Company wishes to develop a project for the mining, transportation and sale, either within Australia or by export to overseas purchasers, of iron ore from the said Areas with an initial production of up to 15,000,000 tonnes of iron ore per annum; and

the State and Company have agreed to enter into this Agreement for the purpose of assisting the establishment of the proposed project and providing a framework for managing future changes to the project.

in the case of iron ore the property of the Company which is shipped out of the said State, the date of shipment;

in any other case, the date of sale, transfer of ownership, disposal or use as the case may be;

in the case of iron ore shipped and sold by the Company, the price which is payable for the iron ore by the purchaser thereof to the Company or, where the Minister is not satisfied that the price payable in respect of the iron ore represents a fair and reasonable market value for that iron ore assessed at an arm’s length basis, such amount as is agreed or determined, less all export duties and export taxes payable to the Commonwealth on the export of the iron ore and all costs and charges properly incurred and payable by the Company from the time the iron ore shall be placed on ship at the loading port to the time the same is delivered and accepted by the purchaser including —

ocean freight;

marine insurance;

port and handling charges at the port of discharge;

all costs properly incurred in delivering the iron ore from port of discharge to the smelter and evidenced by relevant invoices;

all weighing sampling assaying inspection and representation costs;

all shipping agency charges after loading on and departure of ship from the loading port;

all import taxes by the country of the port of discharge; and

such other costs and charges as the Minister may in his discretion consider reasonable in respect of any shipment or sale;

in all other cases, the deemed f.o.b. value.

monetary references are references to Australian currency unless otherwise specifically expressed;

power given under any clause other than Clause 36 to extend any period or date shall be without prejudice to the power of the Minister under Clause 36;

clause headings do not affect the interpretation or construction;

words in the singular shall include the plural and words in the plural shall include the singular according to the requirements of the context; and

reference to an Act includes the amendments to that Act for the time being in force and also any Act passed in substitution therefor or in lieu thereof and the regulations for the time being in force thereunder.

introduce and sponsor a Bill in the State Parliament of Western Australia to ratify this Agreement and endeavour to secure its passage as an Act prior to 31 December 1992; and

subject to the adequate protection of the environment (including flora and fauna) and the land affected (including improvements thereon) allow the Company to enter upon Crown Lands (including, if applicable, land the subject of a pastoral lease) to the extent reasonably necessary for the purposes of undertaking its obligations under subclause (1) of Clause 5.

The provisions of this Agreement other than this Clause and Clauses 1, 2 and 3 shall not come into operation until the Bill referred to in Clause 3 has been passed by the Parliament of Western Australia and comes into operation as an Act.

If before 31 December 1992 the said Bill has not commenced to operate as an Act then unless the parties hereto otherwise agree this Agreement shall then cease and determine and neither party hereto shall have any claim against the other with respect to any matter or thing arising out of, done, performed, or omitted to be done or performed under this Agreement.

On the said Bill commencing to operate as an Act all the provisions of this Agreement shall operate and take effect notwithstanding the provisions of any Act or law.

The Company shall continue its field and office geological, geophysical, engineering, environmental, marketing and finance studies and other matters necessary to enable it to finalise and to submit the proposals referred to in Clause 7.

The Company shall keep the State fully informed in writing quarterly as to the progress and results of its operations under subclause (1).

The Company shall co‑operate with the State and consult with the representatives or officers of the State regarding matters referred to in subclauses (1) and (2) and any other relevant studies in relation to those subclauses that the Minister may wish to undertake.

Prior to submission of its proposals under Clause 7 the Company shall confer with the Minister with regard to the proposed mining of up to 15,000,000 tonnes of iron ore per annum from Area A and/or if desired by the Company and approved by the Minister (where he is satisfied as to the exploration work carried out in respect thereof) from Area B or portions thereof.

(a) Subject to paragraph (b) of this subclause the exploration licences held by the Company under the Mining Act within Area A and any portion of Area B approved by the Minister pursuant to subclause (1) shall remain in force and effect during the period from the date hereof to the surrender of those licences pursuant to subclause (1) of Clause 12 (and shall be renewed as necessary pursuant to section 61(2) of the Mining Act for this purpose) under and subject to the Mining Act except that the provisions of sections 62 and 65 of the Mining Act shall not apply to those exploration licences during that period.

If this Agreement ceases or determines before the exploration licences referred to in paragraph (a) of this subclause are surrendered pursuant to subclause (1) of Clause 12 each of those exploration licences shall continue in force and effect under and subject to the Mining Act for the balance of the term thereof current at the date of cessation or determination of this Agreement.

The Company shall subject to the EP Act and the provisions of this Agreement submit to the Minister on or before 30 June 1998 to the fullest extent reasonably practicable its detailed proposals (including plans where practicable and specifications where reasonably required by the Minister) with respect to the production of iron ore from the area or areas approved pursuant to subclause (1) of Clause 6 and the transport and shipment of iron ore produced which proposals shall make provisions for the Company’s workforce and associated population required to enable the Company to mine and recover iron ore from the mining lease and transport and ship the iron ore and shall include the location, area, lay‑out, design, quantities, materials and time programme for the commencement and completion of construction or the provision (as the case may be) of each of the following matters, namely —

the mining and recovery of iron ore including mining crushing screening handling transport and storage of iron ore and plant facilities and any processing of iron ore proposed to be carried out;

roads within the mining lease and roads serving the mining lease;

temporary accommodation and ancillary facilities for the mine camp workforce and housing or other appropriate accommodation and facilities elsewhere for the Company’s workforce;

management of vehicles on the mine site;

water supply;

power supply;

transportation of iron ore by rail and/or conveyor;

storage and ship loading of iron ore;

mine aerodrome on or in the vicinity of the mining lease and any other aerodrome facilities and services;

any other works, services or facilities desired by the Company;

use of local labour professional services manufacturers suppliers contractors and materials and measures to be taken with respect to the engagement and training of employees by the Company, its agents and contractors;

any leases, licences or other tenures of land required from the State; and

an environmental management programme as to measures to be taken, in respect of the Company’s activities under this Agreement, for rehabilitation and the protection and management of the environment.

Each of the proposals pursuant to subclause (1) may with the approval of the Minister or if so required by the Minister be submitted separately and in any order as to the matter or matters mentioned in one or more of paragraphs (a) to (m) of subclause (1).

Each of the proposals pursuant to subclause (1) may with the consent of the Minister and that of any other parties concerned instead of providing for the construction of new facilities or equipment or the provision of new services of the kind therein mentioned provide for the use by the Company of any existing facilities equipment or services of such kind belonging to the Company or upon terms and conditions agreed between the Company and the other parties concerned of any other existing facilities equipment or services of such kind.

At the time when the Company submits the said proposals it shall —

submit to the Minister details of any services (including any elements of the project investigations design and management) and any works materials plant equipment and supplies that it proposes to consider obtaining from or having carried out or permitting to be obtained from or carried out outside Australia together with its reasons therefor and shall, if required by the Minister, consult with the Minister with respect thereto; and

furnish to the Minister’s reasonable satisfaction evidence of —

marketing arrangements demonstrating the Company’s ability to sell iron ore in accordance with the said proposals;

the availability of finance necessary for the fulfilment of the operations to which the said proposals refer; and

the readiness of the Company to embark upon and proceed to carry out the operations referred to in the said proposals.

In respect of each proposal pursuant to subclause (1) of Clause 7 the Minister shall subject to the EP Act —

approve of the proposal without qualification or reservation; or

defer consideration of or decision upon the same until such time as the Company submits a further proposal or proposals in respect of some other of the matters mentioned in subclause (1) of Clause 7 not covered by the said proposal; or

require as a condition precedent to the giving of his approval to the said proposal that the Company make such alteration thereto or comply with such conditions in respect thereto as he (having regard to the circumstances including the overall development of and the use by others as well as the Company of all or any of the facilities proposed to be provided) thinks reasonable and in such a case the Minister shall disclose his reasons for such conditions,

The Minister shall within two months after receipt of proposals pursuant to subclause (1) of Clause 7 or where the proposals are to be assessed under section 40(1)(b) of the EP Act then within two months after service on him of an authority under section 45(7) of the EP Act give notice to the Company of his decision in respect to the proposals.

If the decision of the Minister is as mentioned in either of paragraphs (b) or (c) of subclause (1) the Minister shall afford the Company full opportunity to consult with him and should it so desire to submit new or revised proposals either generally or in respect to some particular matter.

If the decision of the Minister is as mentioned in either of paragraphs (b) or (c) of subclause (1) and the Company considers that the decision is unreasonable the Company within two months after receipt of the notice mentioned in subclause (2) may elect to refer to arbitration in the manner hereinafter provided the question of the reasonableness of the decision PROVIDED THAT any requirement of the Minister pursuant to the proviso to subclause (1) shall not be referable to arbitration hereunder.

An award made on an arbitration pursuant to subclause (4) shall have force and effect as follows —

if by the award the dispute is decided against the Company then unless the Company within 3 months after delivery of the award gives notice to the Minister of its acceptance of the award this Agreement shall on the expiration of that period of 3 months cease and determine; or

if by the award the dispute is decided in favour of the Company the decision shall take effect as a notice by the Minister that he is so satisfied with and approves the matter or matters the subject of the arbitration.

Subject to and in accordance with the EP Act and any approvals and licences required under that Act the Company shall implement the approved proposals in accordance with the terms thereof.

Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement or that under this Clause any proposals of the Company are approved by the Minister or determined by arbitration award, unless each and every proposal and matter required pursuant to Clause 7 is so approved or determined by 30 June 1999 then the Minister may give to the Company 12 months notice of intention to determine this Agreement and unless before the expiration of the said 12 months period all the detailed proposals and matters are so approved or determined this Agreement shall on the expiration of that period cease and determine subject however to the provisions of Clause 38.

Having regard to the geographical relationship and physical association of the mining lease with other iron ore deposits and to the general development of the Pilbara area, the Company in its initial proposals under Clause 7 and any subsequent proposals pursuant to Clause 10 (other than a proposal under that Clause that does not involve any significant variation to the project infrastructure) or Clause 11 shall take into account and make provision where it is reasonably practicable so to do for —

the economic and orderly overall development of the lands the subject of this Agreement and those other iron ore deposits;

appropriate infrastructure development in the Pilbara area having regard to then existing iron ore operations and facilities and other existing developments; and

an open town or towns or other appropriate housing and accommodation arrangements to service the iron ore mines and other developments in the Pilbara area.

The Company and the State shall co‑operate and consult with each other regarding the matters referred to in subclause (1), State Government policies and development objectives, the Company’s commercial requirements and any other relevant matters that the Minister or the Company may wish to consider.

Subject to Clause 11 if the Company at any time during the continuance of this Agreement desires to produce more than the tonneage of iron ore per annum for transportation from the mining lease approved under the proposals submitted pursuant to subclause (1) of Clause 7 or to significantly modify expand or otherwise vary its activities carried on pursuant to this Agreement beyond those activities specified in any approved proposals it shall give notice of such desire to the Minister and within 2 months thereafter shall submit to the Minister detailed proposals in respect of all matters covered by such notice and such of the other matters mentioned in paragraphs (a) to (m) of subclause (1) of Clause 7 as the Minister may require.

The provisions of Clause 7 and Clause 8 (other than subclauses (5)(a) and (7)) shall mutatis mutandis apply to detailed proposals submitted pursuant to this subclause with the proviso that the Company may withdraw such proposals at any time before approval thereof or, where any decision of the Minister in respect thereof is referred to arbitration, within 3 months after the award by notice to the Minister that it shall not be proceeding with the same. Subject to and in accordance with the EP Act and any approvals and licences required under that Act the Company shall implement approved proposals pursuant to this Clause in accordance with the terms thereof.

The Company shall not produce more than 15,000,000 tonnes of iron ore per annum for transportation from the mining lease nor shall the total number of the mine camp workforce exceed 150 nor shall the Company proceed with any plan or plans to develop all or any of a port for the shipment of iron ore, a port townsite, a townsite in the vicinity of the mining lease or a railway line extending from the mining lease to a ship loading facility without the prior consent of the Minister and approval of detailed proposals in regard thereto in accordance with this Clause.

(a) If the Company desires to increase the annual tonneage or the mine camp workforce beyond that specified in subclause (1) or proceed with any plan mentioned therein it shall give notice thereof to the Minister and furnish to the Minister with that notice an outline of its proposals in respect thereto (including the matters mentioned in paragraphs (a) - (m) of subclause (1) of Clause 7).

The Minister shall within one month of a notice under paragraph (a) of this subclause advise the Company whether or not he approves in principle the proposed increase or progression of the proposed plan. An approval by the Minister under this subclause may be given subject to conditions including a condition requiring variations of or additions to this Agreement PROVIDED THAT any such condition shall not without the consent of the Company require variations of —

the term of the mining lease or any railway lease or the rental thereunder;

the rentals payable under any other lease or licence hereunder;

the rates of or method of calculating royalty; and

Clause 24.

(a) If the Minister approves in principle a proposed increase or plan the Company shall within six months of that approval submit to the Minister detailed proposals in respect thereof in accordance with any conditions of that approval otherwise that approval shall lapse.

The provisions of subclause (2) of Clause 10 shall apply to detailed proposals submitted pursuant to this subclause.

Any proposal under this Clause to increase the annual tonneage to be produced or the number of the mine camp workforce shall specify the proposed increase and on and after approval or determination of any such proposal pursuant to subclause (3)(b) the provisions of this Clause shall apply mutatis mutandis to the increased tonneage or number of the mine camp workforce as the case may be and also to any subsequent desires of the Company for an increase in the tonneage or mine camp workforce.

On application made by the Company, not later than 3 months after all its proposals submitted pursuant to subclause (1) of Clause 7 have been approved or determined and the Company has complied with the provisions of subclause (4) of Clause 7, for a mining lease for the mining of iron ore of Area A and so much of the land in Area B as may be the subject of the said proposals the State shall upon the surrender by the Company of the exploration licences over Area A and the surrender of any land in Area B the subject of the said proposals out of the applicable exploration licences cause to be granted to the Company at the rental specified from time to time in the Mining Act a mining lease of such land (notwithstanding that the survey in respect thereof has not been completed but subject to such corrections to accord with the survey when completed at the Company’s expense) for the mining of iron ore only such mining lease to be granted under and, except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, subject to the Mining Act but in the form of the Schedule hereto and subject to such conditions or stipulations consistent with the provisions of this Agreement and approved proposals as the Minister for Mines may determine.

Subject to the performance by the Company of its obligations under this Agreement and the Mining Act and notwithstanding any provisions of the Mining Act to the contrary the term of the mining lease shall be for a period of 21 years commencing from the date of receipt of the application therefor under subclause (1) with the right during the currency of this Agreement to take two successive renewals of the said term each for a further period of 21 years upon the same terms and conditions, subject to the sooner determination of the said term upon cessation or determination of this Agreement such right to be exercisable by the Company making written application for any such renewal not later than one month before the expiration of the current term of the mining lease.

The State shall ensure that during the currency of this Agreement and subject to compliance with its obligations hereunder the Company shall not be required to comply with the expenditure conditions imposed by or under the Mining Act in regard to the mining lease.

The Company shall lodge with the Department of Minerals and Energy at Perth —

such periodical reports (except reports in the form of Form 5 of the Mining Regulations 1981 or other reports relating to expenditure on the mining lease) and returns as may be prescribed in respect of mining leases pursuant to regulations under the Mining Act provided that the Minister for Mines may waive any requirement for lodgment of exploration data in respect of areas within the mining lease;

on an annual basis, a report on ore reserves within the mining lease (using the scheme recommended by the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and the Australian Mining Industry Council or future equivalent) together with a list of any geotechnical, metallurgical, geochemical and geophysical investigations carried out during the year and, if requested by the Department, details of any of those investigations;

reports on drilling operations and drill holes where the main purpose of the drilling was to discover or define future ore reserves on the mining lease and, if requested by the Department, reports on drilling done within blocks of proven ore for the purpose of mine planning.

The Company shall at all times permit the State and third parties with the consent of the State (with or without stock, vehicles and rolling stock) to have access to and to pass over the mining lease (by separate route, road or railway) so long as that access and passage does not unduly prejudice or interfere with the activities of the Company under this Agreement.

Notwithstanding the provisions of this Clause and the Mining Act with the approval of the Minister the Company may from time to time (with abatement of future rent in respect to the area surrendered but without any abatement of rent already paid or any rent which has become due and has been paid in advance) surrender to the State all or any portion or portions of the mining lease.

The Company in accordance with approved proposals may for the construction of works (and the maintenance thereof) for the purposes of this Agreement and without payment of royalty, obtain stone sand clay and gravel from the mining lease.

(a) Notwithstanding anything contained or implied in this Agreement or in the mining lease or the Mining Act mining tenements may subject to the provisions of this Clause be granted to or registered in favour of persons other than the Company under the Mining Act in respect of the areas subject to the mining lease unless the Minister for Mines determines that such grant or registration is likely unduly to prejudice or interfere with the current or prospective operations of the Company hereunder with respect to iron ore assuming the taking by the Company of reasonable steps to avoid the prejudice or interference or that there is a reasonable probability that such a grant or registration would materially reduce the quantity of economically extractable iron ore available to the Company.

A mining tenement granted or registered as a result of this Clause shall not confer any right to mine or otherwise obtain rights to iron ore on the tenement.

(i) In respect of any application for a mining tenement made under the Mining Act in respect of an area the subject of the mining lease the Minister for Mines shall consult with the Minister and the Company with respect to the significance of iron ore deposits in, on or under the land the subject of the application and any effect the grant of a mining tenement pursuant to such application might have on the current or prospective iron ore operations of the Company under this Agreement.

Where the Minister for Mines, after taking into account any matters raised by the Minister or the Company determines that the grant or registration of the application is likely to have the effect on the operations of the Company or the iron ore referred to in paragraph (a) of this subclause, he shall, by notice served on the Warden to whom the application was made, refuse the application.

Before making a determination pursuant to subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph the Minister for Mines may request the Warden to hear the application and any objections thereto and as soon as practicable after the hearing of the application to report to the Minister for Mines on the application and the objections and the effect on the current or prospective operations of the Company or the quantity of economically extractable iron ore that a grant of the application might have.

(i) Except as provided in paragraph (c) of this subclause a Warden shall not hear or otherwise deal with an application for a mining tenement in respect of an area the subject of the mining lease unless and until the Minister for Mines has notified him that it is not intended to refuse the application pursuant to paragraph (c) of this subclause. Following such advice to the Warden the application shall be disposed of under and in accordance with the Mining Act save that where the Warden has heard the application and objections thereto pursuant to paragraph (c) of this subclause, the application may be dealt with by the Warden without further hearing.

The Company may exercise in respect of any application heard by the Warden any right that it may have under the Mining Act to object to the granting of the application.

Any mining tenement granted pursuant to such application shall, in addition to any covenants and conditions that may be prescribed or imposed, be granted subject to such conditions as the Minister for Mines may determine having regard to the matters the subject of the consultations with the Minister and the Company pursuant to paragraph (c)(i) of this subclause and any matters raised by the Company before the Warden.

On the grant of any mining tenement pursuant to an application to which this subclause applies the land the subject thereof shall thereupon be deemed excised from the mining lease (with abatement of future rent in respect of the area excised but without any abatement of rent already paid or of rent which has become due and has not been paid in advance).

If the Company applies —

during the period of application for or during the term of any mining tenement referred to in paragraph (e) of this subclause; or

if that tenement is a prospecting licence or exploration licence and a substitute tenement is granted in respect thereof pursuant to an application made under section 49 or section 67 of the Mining Act, during the term of the substitute title,

The Company shall during the continuance of this Agreement pay to the State royalty on all iron ore from the mining lease (other than iron ore shipped solely for testing purposes and in respect of which no purchase price or other consideration is payable or due) as follows —

on lump ore and on fine ore, where such fine ore is not sold or shipped separately as such, shipped sold transferred or otherwise disposed of or used prior to 1 December 2008 at the rate of 5.625% of the f.o.b. value and thereafter at the rate of 7.5% of the f.o.b. value;

on fine ore sold or shipped separately as such at the rate of 5.625% of the f.o.b. value;

on manganese ore and on manganiferous ore sold or shipped separately as such at the rate of 7.5% of the f.o.b. value;

on beneficiated ore at the rate of 3.25% of the f.o.b. value;

on beneficiated manganese ore and on beneficiated manganiferous ore at the rate of 5% of the f.o.b. value;

on all other iron ore of whatever kind at the rate of 7.5% of the f.o.b. value.

The Company shall —

within fourteen days after the quarter days the last days of March June September and December in each year commencing with the quarter day next following the first transportation of iron ore from the mining lease furnish to the Minister a return showing the quantity of all iron ore the subject of royalty hereunder and shipped sold transferred or otherwise disposed of or used (as the case may be) during the quarter immediately preceding the due date of the return and shall not later than two (2) months after such due date pay to the Minister the royalty payable in respect thereof or if the f.o.b. value is not then finally calculated, agreed or determined pay to the Minister on account of the royalty payable hereunder a sum calculated on the basis of invoices or provisional invoices (as the case may be) rendered by the Company to the purchaser (which invoices the Company shall render without delay simultaneously furnishing copies thereof to the Minister) of such iron ore or on the basis of estimates as agreed or determined and shall from time to time in the next following appropriate return and payment make (by return and by cash) all such necessary adjustments (and give to the Minister full details thereof) when the f.o.b. value shall have been finally calculated, agreed or determined;

permit the Minister or his nominee to inspect at all reasonable times the books of account and records of the Company including contracts relative to any shipment or sale of iron ore hereunder and records of iron ore in stockpile or transit and to take copies of extracts therefrom and for the purpose of determining the f.o.b. value in respect of any shipment sale transfer or other disposal or use or production of iron ore hereunder the Company will take reasonable steps (i) to provide the Minister with current prices for iron ore outside and within the Commonwealth and other details and information that may be required by the Minister for the purpose of agreeing or determining the f.o.b. value and (ii) to satisfy the State either by certificate of a competent independent party acceptable to the State or otherwise to the Minister’s reasonable satisfaction as to all relevant weights and analyses and will give due regard to any objection or representation made by the Minister or his nominee as to any particular weight or assay of iron ore which may affect the amount of royalty payable hereunder; and

as and when required by the Minister for Mines from time to time install and thereafter maintain in good working order and condition meters for measuring quantities of iron ore and iron ore products of such design or designs and at such places as the Minister for Mines may require.

The Company shall progressively explore and carry out full geological investigations on the lands within Area B (except any portion thereof approved by the Minister pursuant to subclause (1) of Clause 6) expending in respect of each mining tenement within those lands amounts at least equal to the prescribed expenditure conditions applicable to the mining tenement under the Mining Act and shall report to the State the results of such exploration and investigations as and when required by the Minister.

The Company may from time to time during the currency of this Agreement until 30 June 2000 apply to the Minister for any mining tenements held by it within Area B not then the subject of the mining lease to be included in the mining lease and provided the tenement or tenements concerned have been explored to the satisfaction of the State, the Minister for Mines will subject to surrender by the Company of the mining tenement or tenements concerned include the land the subject thereof in the mining lease by endorsement on the mining lease subject to such of the conditions of the surrendered mining tenements as the Minister for Mines determines but otherwise subject to the same terms covenants and conditions as apply to the mining lease (with such apportionment of rents as is necessary), notwithstanding that the survey of such additional land has not been completed (but subject to correction to accord with the survey when completed at the Company’s expense).

(a) Subject to paragraph (b) of this subclause exploration licences held by the Company under the Mining Act within Area B and which are not the subject of an approval by the Minister under subclause (1) of Clause 6 or included in the mining lease shall remain in force and effect during the period from the date hereof to 30 June 2000 (and shall be renewed as necessary pursuant to section 61(2) of the Mining Act for this purpose) under and subject to the Mining Act except that the provisions of section 65 of the Mining Act shall not apply to those exploration licences during that period.

On and after 30 June 2000 or the sooner determination or cessation of this Agreement each exploration licence to which paragraph (a) of this subclause applies then held by the Company within Area B shall continue in force and effect under and subject to the Mining Act for the balance of the term thereof then current.

(a) Subject to paragraph (b) of this subclause the exploration licences held by the Company at the date hereof under the Mining Act within Area C shall remain in force and effect during the period from the date hereof to 30 June 2003 (and shall be renewed as necessary pursuant to section 61(2) of the Mining Act for this purpose) under and subject to the Mining Act except that (subject to subclause (3)) the provisions of section 65 of the Mining Act shall not apply to those exploration licences during that period.

On and after June 2003 or the sooner determination or cessation of this Agreement each exploration licence then held by the Company within Area C shall continue in force and effect under and subject to the Mining Act for the balance of the term thereof then current.

The Company shall comply with the provisions of section 62 of the Mining Act in regard to the exploration licences (subject to any exemption under section 102A of that Act).

The State and the Company may negotiate during the currency of this Agreement until 30 June 2003 as to the basis on which the Company may be given rights to mine and recover iron ore from Area C.

The Company shall in respect of the matters referred to in paragraph (m) of subclause (1) of Clause 7 and which are the subject of approved proposals, carry out a continuous programme of investigation research and monitoring to ascertain the effectiveness of the measures it is taking both generally and pursuant to such approved proposals for rehabilitation and the protection and management of the environment.

The Company shall during the currency of this Agreement submit to the Minister at yearly intervals commencing from the date when the Company’s proposals are approved or determined (except those years in which a comprehensive report is required to be submitted) a brief report concerning investigations research and monitoring carried out pursuant to subclause (1) and the implementation by the Company of the elements of the approved proposals relating to rehabilitation and the protection and management of the environment in the year ending two calendar months before the due date for the brief report and, at three yearly intervals commencing from such date a comprehensive report on the result of such investigations research and monitoring and the implementation by the Company of the elements of the approved proposals relating to rehabilitation and the protection and management of the environment during the three year period ending two calendar months before the due date for the comprehensive report and the programme proposed to be undertaken by the Company during the following three year period in regard to investigations research and monitoring pursuant to subclause (1) and the implementation by the Company of the elements of the approved proposals relating to rehabilitation and the protection and management of the environment.

The Minister may within 2 months of receipt of a report pursuant to subclause (2) notify the Company that the Minister —

requires amendment of the report and/or programme; or

requires additional detailed proposals to be submitted for the protection and management of the environment.

The Company shall within 2 months of receipt of a notice pursuant to paragraph (a) of subclause (3) submit to the Minister an amended report and/or programme as required. The Minister shall afford the Company full opportunity to consult with the Minister on the Minister’s requirements during the preparation of any amended report or programme.

The Minister may within 1 month of receipt of an amended report or programme pursuant to subclause (4) notify the Company that the Minister requires additional detailed proposals to be submitted for rehabilitation and the protection and management of the environment.

The Company shall within 2 months of receipt of a notice given pursuant to paragraph (b) of subclause (3) or subclause (5) submit to the Minister additional detailed proposals as required and the provisions of subclauses (1), (2), (3) and (4) of Clause 8 shall mutatis mutandis apply in respect of such proposals.

Subject to and in accordance with the EP Act and any approvals and licences required under that Act the Company shall implement the decision of the Minister or any award on arbitration as the case may be in accordance with the terms thereof.

The Company shall, for the purposes of this Agreement —

except in those cases where the Company can demonstrate it is impracticable so to do, use labour available within Western Australia (using all reasonable endeavours to ensure that as many as possible of the Company’s workforce be recruited from the Pilbara) or if such labour is not available then, except as aforesaid, use labour otherwise available within Australia;

as far as it is reasonable and economically practicable so to do, use the services of engineers surveyors architects and other professional consultants experts and specialists, project managers, manufacturers, suppliers and contractors resident and available within Western Australia or if such services are not available within Western Australia then, as far as practicable as aforesaid, use the services of such persons otherwise available within Australia;

during design and when preparing specifications, calling for tenders and letting contracts for works materials plant equipment and supplies (which shall at all times, except where it is impracticable so to do, use or be based upon Australian Standards and Codes) ensure that suitably qualified Western Australian and Australian suppliers manufacturers and contractors are given fair and reasonable opportunity to tender or quote;

give proper consideration and where possible preference to Western Australian suppliers manufacturers and contractors when letting contracts or placing orders for works, materials, plant, equipment and supplies where price quality delivery and service are equal to or better than that obtainable elsewhere or, subject to the foregoing, give that consideration and where possible preference to other Australian suppliers manufacturers and contractors; and

if notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this subclause a contract is to be let or an order is to be placed with other than a Western Australian or Australian supplier, manufacturer or contractor, give proper consideration and where possible preference to tenders arrangements or proposals that include Australian participation.

Except as otherwise agreed by the Minister the Company shall in every contract entered into with a third party for the supply of services labour works materials plant equipment or supplies for the purposes of this Agreement require as a condition thereof that such third party shall undertake the same obligations as are referred to in subclause (1) and shall report to the Company concerning such third party’s implementation of that condition.

The Company shall submit a report to the Minister at monthly intervals or such longer period as the Minister determines commencing from the date of this Agreement concerning its implementation of the provisions of this Clause together with a copy of any report received by the Company pursuant to subclause (2) during that month or longer period as the case may be PROVIDED THAT the Minister may agree that any such reports need not be provided in respect of contracts of such kind or value as the Minister may from time to time determine.

The Company shall keep the Minister informed on a regular basis as determined by the Minister from time to time or otherwise as required by the Minister during the currency of this Agreement of any services (including any elements of the project investigations design and management) and any works materials plant equipment and supplies that it may be proposing to obtain from or have carried out or permit to be obtained from or carried out outside Australia together with its reasons therefor and shall as and when required by the Minister consult with the Minister with respect thereto.

The Company shall —

be responsible for the cost of the construction and maintenance of all private roads which shall be used in its activities hereunder;

at its own cost erect signposts and take other steps that may be reasonable in the circumstances to prevent any persons and vehicles other than those engaged upon the Company’s activities and its invitees and licensees from using the private roads; and

at any place where any private roads are constructed by the Company so as to cross any railways or public roads provide at its cost such reasonable protection and signposting as may be required by the Commissioner of Main Roads or the Railways Commission as the case may be.

The State shall maintain or cause to be maintained those public roads under the control of the Commissioner of Main Roads or a local authority which may be used by the Company for the purposes of this Agreement to a standard similar to comparable public roads maintained by the Commissioner of Main Roads or a local authority as the case may be.

In the event that for or in connection with the Company’s activities hereunder the Company or any person engaged by the Company uses or wishes to use a public road (whether referred to in subclause (2) or otherwise) which is inadequate for the purpose, or any use by the Company or any person engaged by the Company of any public road results in excessive damage to or deterioration thereof (other than fair wear and tear) the Company shall pay to the State or the local authority as the case may require the whole or an equitable part of the total cost of any upgrading required or of making good the damage or deterioration as may be reasonably required by the Commissioner of Main Roads having regard to the use of such public road by others.

Where a road constructed by the Company for its own use is subsequently required for public use, the State may, after consultation with the Company and so long as resumption thereof shall not unduly prejudice or interfere with the activities of the Company under this Agreement, resume and dedicate such road as a public road. Upon any such resumption the State shall pay to the Company such amount as is reasonable.

The Company shall confer with the Minister on any upgrading of existing aerodrome facilities and services in the Pilbara region that the Minister after consultation with the relevant local authority may consider to be required as a result of the Company’s activities under this Agreement.

The Company shall not propose or construct any mine aerodrome of a standard greater than the minimum requirements for an Authorised Landing Area of a standard suitable for use by a Canadair Challenger 600‑601 jet aircraft or other similar aircraft without the approval of the Minister.

For the purposes of facilitating integration of electricity generation and transmission facilities in the area of the mine site the Company shall purchase its electricity requirements (if available) from the State Energy Commission or negotiate with the State Energy Commission for the payment by the Company of an equitable contribution towards the augmentation of the facilities of the State Energy Commission to enable it to supply such electricity to the Company. Electricity supplied to the Company pursuant to this subclause shall be at rates and on terms and conditions to be agreed between the State Energy Commission and the Company.

In the event of the Company demonstrating to the satisfaction of the Minister that the provisions of subclause (1) would be unduly prejudicial to its activities or if the State Energy Commission is unable to provide supply the Company may —

in accordance with its approved proposals hereunder and subject to the provisions of the Electricity Act 1945 and the approval and requirements of the State Energy Commission pursuant to any Act, install and operate without cost to the State, at an appropriate location equipment of sufficient capacity to generate electricity for its activities at the mine site; and

transmit power within the mine site and for the operations of the Company’s railway subject to the provisions of the Electricity Act 1945 and the approval and requirements of the State Energy Commission pursuant to any Act.

In the event that the Company is unable to procure easements or other rights over land required for the purposes of subclause (2) on reasonable terms the State shall assist the Company to such extent as may be reasonably necessary to enable it to procure the said easements or other rights over land.

If the State Energy Commission desires to purchase power for its own use and the Company has the ability to supply such power in excess of the Company’s own requirements, the Company shall use its best endeavours to supply on terms and conditions to be negotiated between the State Energy Commission and the Company and the Company shall in that event be empowered to supply such power.

(a) The State and the Company shall agree upon the amounts (and qualities thereof) of the Company’s annual and maximum daily water requirements for use in its activities hereunder at the mine site (which amounts or such other amounts as shall from time to time be agreed between the parties to be reasonable are hereinafter called “the mining water requirements”).

To the fullest extent reasonably practicable the Company shall use water obtained from dewatering on the mining lease for its purposes under this Agreement.

Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to exempt the Company from any liability to the State or to third parties arising out of or caused by extraction of water from the mining lease by dewatering or any discharge or escape from the mining lease of water obtained by dewatering.

The Company shall at its cost and in collaboration with the State search for underground water within the mining lease. Where appropriate the Company shall employ and retain experienced groundwater consultants. The Company shall furnish to the Minister details of the results of its investigations and copies of the reports of such consultants as they become available.

If in the opinion of the Minister, the details and reports of the consultants pursuant to subclause (2) indicate that any source of underground water in the mining lease is likely to be inadequate or unsuitable to supply the mining water requirements the State and the Company shall (having due regard to the then present or likely future requirements of third parties for water) collaborate and agree on the programme which shall be carried out by the State at the cost of the Company to search for water inside and outside the mining lease.

If the investigations referred to in subclauses (2) and (3) prove to the satisfaction of the Minister the availability of any suitable underground water source in or near the mining lease which can continue to be drawn on by the Company without seriously affecting the water level in that water source beneath the mining lease or adjacent areas or the availability or water in the adjacent areas the State shall grant to the Company a licence to develop and draw from that source at the Company’s cost but without fee, the mining water requirements on such terms and conditions as are necessary to ensure good water resource management as the Minister may from time to time require and during the continuance of this Agreement grant renewals of any such licence PROVIDED HOWEVER that should that source in the opinion of the Minister prove hydrologically inadequate to meet the mining water requirements, the State may on at least 6 months prior notice to the Company (or on at least 48 hours prior notice if in the opinion of the Minister an emergency situation exists) limit the amount of water which may be taken from that source at any one time or from time to time to the maximum which that source is hydrologically capable of meeting as aforesaid.

In the event of water supplies from available underground sources proving insufficient to meet the mining water requirements the Company shall notwithstanding the provisions of subclause (4) collaborate with the State in an investigation of surface water, water catchments and storage dams. The Company shall if it proposes to utilise such surface water, water catchments and storage dams pay to the State a sum or sums to be agreed towards the cost of such investigation.

Should the State at any time pursuant to the proviso to subclause (4) limit the amount of water to be taken from any underground water source or if otherwise the mining water requirements cannot be met from any water source on a continuous basis the State shall with all reasonable expedition and in conjunction with and upon the request of the Company search for new or additional water sources with a view to restoring or ensuring the full quantity of the mining water requirements. The Company shall pay to the State a fair and reasonable proportion of the cost of investigating and developing such new and additional water sources as agreed between the Company and the State.

The Company shall provide at its cost or with finance arranged by it and construct to standards and in accordance with designs approved by the State and operate and maintain in accordance with the relevant approved proposals all necessary dams, bores, valves, distribution pipelines, reticulation, meters, tanks, equipment and appurtenances necessary to draw transport use reticulate and dispose of water obtained by the Company pursuant to this Clause.

If during the currency of this Agreement the Minister is of the opinion that it would be desirable for water conservation purposes or water management purposes that sources of water utilised by the Company be controlled and operated by the State as part of a regional water supply scheme, the Minister may, on giving 6 months prior notice to the Company of his intention to do so, acquire the Company’s water supply facilities for a monetary consideration to be agreed between the Minister and the Company. Immediately thereafter the State shall, subject only to the continued hydrological availability of water from such sources (as determined by the Minister) commence and thereafter continue to supply water of the relevant qualities up to the amount and at the rates required by the Company being the amounts and rates to which the Company was previously entitled and the proviso to subclause (4) and the provisions of subclause (5) shall in like manner apply to this subclause.

The State, after first having due regard to the mining water requirements and to the hydrological adequacy of existing water sources, may in its discretion develop all or any of the water resources referred to in this Clause or construct any works in connection therewith to a greater capacity than that required to supply the mining water requirements but in that event the Company shall pay to the State a share of the cost of the system as so enlarged as may be agreed between the parties to be fair in all the circumstances.

The State may after first having due regard to the mining water requirements and to the hydrological adequacy of the applicable water source, upon not less than 3 months prior notice to the Company specifying the identity of the third party including where applicable the State and the estimated maximum daily and total quantity of water to be drawn by that third party and the period over which such drawing is to occur, grant to a third party rights to draw water or itself draw water from that source PROVIDED HOWEVER that —

where the Company has paid (in whole or in part) any moneys in respect of the investigation development and utilisation of that water source the State shall require as a condition of the grant that where the third party is or will be a substantial drawer of water from that water source within 5 years of the commencement date the third party (but not the State) shall reimburse to the Company prior to the third party exercising its rights to draw water, such proportion of those moneys as the Minister determines is fair and reasonable; and

where the Company draws water from that water source the State shall ensure that it is a condition of the grant to third parties that in the event that the capacity of that water source is reduced, such reduction shall be first applied to the third parties and thereafter if further reduction is necessary the State’s and the Company’s requirements shall be reduced in such proportion as may be agreed.

The Company shall pay to the State for water supplied by the State pursuant to subclauses (5) and (8) a fair price to be agreed between the parties hereto having regard to the actual cost to the State of establishing operating and maintaining the supply and provision for replacement of the water supply facilities.

The Company shall to the extent that it is practical and economical design construct and operate all plant required under this Clause so as to ensure the most efficient use of the available water resources including if required by the Minister the use of brackish or saline water.

Subject to the Minister’s approval the Company may supply water to third parties including the State at a charge to be approved by the Minister after consultation with the Company. The Company shall have all the powers and authorities with respect to such water as are determined by the Minister which may include all or any of the powers of a water board under the Water Boards Act 1904 and, with the consent of the Minister for Local Government, those of a local authority.

The Company shall to the extent that it is practical and economical design construct and operate all plant and equipment used in its activities under this Agreement so as to minimise water consumption and shall at all times use its best endeavours to minimise the consumption of water in its activities under this Agreement and ensure the most efficient use of the available water resources.

The State shall ensure that no rights to mine minerals petroleum or other substances are granted over the area of any water source from which the Company is drawing water or from time to time have the right to draw water hereunder unless the Minister reasonably determines that such grant is not likely to unduly prejudice or to interfere with the activities of the Company hereunder and is not likely to render the water source incapable of supplying the mining water requirements on a continuous basis.

Any reference in the foregoing provisions of this Clause to a licence is a reference to a licence under the Rights in Water and Irrigation Act 1914 and the provisions of that Act relating to water rights and licences shall except where inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement apply to any water source developed for the Company’s purposes under this Agreement.

Accommodation for the mine camp workforce when the Company is producing not more than 15,000,000 tonnes of iron ore per annum for transportation from the mining lease and the total number of the mine camp workforce is not more than 150 shall be by way of temporary accommodation units (not caravans) and ancillary facilities of a standard generally used in the mining industry located in the vicinity of the mining lease and —

the accommodation units and facilities ancillary to the accommodation units (which may include a mess/wet mess, amenities blocks and offices for Company management personnel) may be provided by the Company or a contractor to the Company but shall be subject to the prior approval of the Minister as to nature and type;

unless otherwise agreed by the Minister all accommodation units on the mine site shall be removed from the mine site upon the mine camp workforce being accommodated elsewhere than at the mine site;

only the mine camp workforce and persons visiting the mine site in connection with the Company’s mining activities on a short term basis or employed for a specific task of limited duration shall be permitted to stay at the accommodation area; and

except where the Minister otherwise agrees in a particular case, no dependants or pets shall be allowed on the mine site.

If and whenever the Company proposes —

to give a notice of proposed increase of tonneages or workforce pursuant to Clause 11;

to substantially add to upgrade replace or relocate accommodation units; or

to construct an additional accommodation area separate from that already established

The Company shall likewise confer with the Minister at the request of the Minister if the State proposes an open town in the Pilbara area and shall co‑operate with the State on any studies in relation to such a proposal that may be required to select a site for the town.

If the State and the Company agree that the mine camp workforce can be located in the proposed open town then the Company will relocate the workforce to the open town within an agreed period of time at no cost to the State and make such contributions to the infrastructure and community facilities in the open town as are agreed between the State and the Company to be required to service the needs of the Company’s workforce.

The Company shall confer with the Minister as and when required by the Minister and the relevant local authorities with a view —

to ensuring that appropriate planning is being made for the provision of adequate serviced land for housing the Company’s workforce in any existing town; and

to assisting in the cost of providing any appropriate community, recreation, civic or social amenities at any existing town required for the Company’s workforce and associated population.

The State shall in accordance with the Company’s approved proposals grant to the Company, or arrange to have the appropriate authority or other interested instrumentality of the State grant, for such periods and on such terms and conditions including rentals and renewal rights as shall be reasonable having regard to the requirements of the Company and as are consistent with the terms of this Agreement and approved proposals, leases and where applicable licences easements and rights of way for all or any of the purposes of the Company’s activities hereunder including any of the following namely — accommodation area, rail spur line, railway line, conveyor, private roads, tailing areas, water pipelines, pumping installations and reservoirs, power transmission lines, radio and communication sites, plant site areas and borrow pits for stone sand clay and gravel.

For the purpose of this Agreement in respect of any land leased to the Company by the State the Land Act shall be deemed to be modified by —

the substitution for subsection (2) of section 45A of the following subsection —

the deletion of the proviso to section 116;

the deletion of section 135;

the deletion of section 143;

the inclusion of a power to grant occupancy rights over land on such terms and conditions as the Minister for Lands may determine;

the inclusion of a power to grant leases or licences for terms or periods and on such terms and conditions (including renewal rights) and in forms consistent with the provisions of this Agreement in lieu of the terms or periods, the terms and conditions and the forms referred to in the Land Act.

Subject to the State having assured to the Company all necessary rights in or over Crown lands available for the purpose the Company shall in a proper and workmanlike manner and in accordance with recognised standards for railways of a similar nature operating under similar conditions construct along the route specified in the approved proposals (but subject to the provisions of the Public Works Act 1902, to the extent that they are applicable) the rail spur line or lines or railway line (of standard gauge, 1.4351 metres) specified in the approved proposals and shall also construct inter alia any necessary deviations, loops, spurs, sidings, crossings, points, bridges signalling switches and other works and appurtenances and provide for crossing places and (where appropriate and required by the Minister) grade separation or other protective devices including flashing lights and boom gates at places where the specified railway crosses or intersects with major roads or existing railways (all of which together with the specified rail spur line or lines or railway line being hereinafter referred to as “the said railway”) and shall operate the said railway with sufficient and adequate locomotives freight cars and other railway stock and equipment for the purposes of the Company’s activities under this Agreement.

The Company shall during the continuance of this Agreement operate the said railway in a safe and proper manner and shall provide crossings for livestock and also for any roads and other railways which now exist and where it can do so without unduly prejudicing or interfering with its activities hereunder the Company shall allow such crossings for roads and railways which may be constructed for future needs and which may be required to cross the said railway.

The Company shall if and when required carry iron ore and iron ore products of third parties (being iron ore or iron ore products obtained from outside the mineral lease) over the said railway in accordance with arrangements (including provision for payment of charges by such third parties) to be entered into for the purpose of this subclause between the Company and the State such arrangements unless the parties hereto otherwise agree to be similar in all material respects with any other arrangements for the carriage of iron ore products of third parties made pursuant to any other agreement with the State relating to the mining of iron ore.

Where the Company can do so without materially prejudicing or interfering with its operations hereunder and subject to the payment to it of the charges prescribed by and for the time being payable under any by‑laws made by the Company in respect of the transporting of passengers and the carriage of freight over the said railway and subject to the due compliance with the other requirements and conditions prescribed by such by‑laws (or should there be no such by‑laws for the time being in force then subject to the payment of such charges and the due compliance with such requirements and conditions as in either case shall be reasonable having regard to the cost to the Company of the construction and operation of the said railway) the Company shall if and when reasonably required so to do transport passengers and carry the freight of the State and third parties (other than iron ore or iron ore products of third parties) over the said railway but in relation to its use of the said railway the Company shall not be deemed to be a common carrier at law or otherwise.

The Company shall not enter into any agreement or other arrangement for the use of or the carriage of the iron ore products of the Company over any railway not established by the Company pursuant to this Agreement without the prior approval of the State thereto and to the proposed terms and conditions (including charges) for such use or carriage.

Where pursuant to Clause 11 and approved proposals the Company is to develop a port for the shipment of iron ore, the Company shall develop the port in accordance with the approved proposals and shall construct a Company wharf and carry out all necessary dredging of approach channels, swinging basins and berth at the Company’s wharf and provide all necessary buoys, beacons, markers, navigational aids, lighting equipment and services and facilities required in connection therewith.

Notwithstanding the provisions of subclause (1), the Company and the State recognise with respect to any wharf or port and shipping facilities and services to be established for the purposes of this Agreement that it may be advantageous for the State to provide all or any of such works or services and in such case the Company and the State shall together with other users and potential users of a wharf or port and/or those facilities or services confer as to the manner in and the conditions upon which the State should provide such works facilities or services to the mutual advantage of all. The Company shall pay to the State a sum or sums to be agreed (not exceeding the amount that would have been payable had the Company carried out the said works) towards the cost of the said works facilities or services provided by the State.

The Company shall subject to and in accordance with by‑laws (which shall include provision for reasonable charges) from time to time to be made and altered as provided in Clause 26 and subject thereto, or if no such by‑laws are made or in force then upon reasonable terms and at reasonable charges (having regard to the cost thereof to the Company) allow the State and third parties to use any wharf and port installations wharf machinery and equipment and wharf and port services and facilities constructed or provided by the Company PROVIDED THAT such use shall not unduly prejudice or interfere with the Company’s operations hereunder and that such use shall be subject to the prior approval of the Company.

During the continuance of this Agreement commencing from the date when the Company first transports iron ore from the mining lease (other than iron ore shipped solely for testing purposes) the Company shall undertake ongoing investigations into the technical and economic feasibility of establishing facilities within the said State either alone or in association with others for the further processing of iron ore obtained from the mining lease and as and when requested by the Minister, but not more frequently than once in every two years, shall submit detailed reports of their investigations to the date of request and their conclusions in regard thereto.

The State may undertake similar investigations and, for this purpose, the Company shall provide the State, within a reasonable time of request, with such information as the State may reasonably request. The Company shall not be obliged to supply technical information of a confidential nature or financial and economic information the disclosure of which would unduly prejudice contractual or commercial arrangements between the Company and third parties, but will use reasonable endeavours to arrange for the supply of this or like information on request by the State.

If as result of investigations undertaken under subclause (1) or (2), the Company or the State reasonably concludes that further processing of iron ore from the mining lease with or without other iron ore and by the Company alone or in association with others is technically and economically feasible, then the State and the Company shall consult on the implementation of such further processing.

If the Company is unwilling to proceed with implementation of such further processing on a timetable acceptable to the State, the State may allow a third party to carry out that implementation but the State will not grant to the third party terms and conditions more favourable on the whole than it was prepared to grant to the Company. In such circumstances, the Company will if required by the third party supply iron ore to the third party at the wharf or port through which iron ore from the mining lease is then or was last exported or such other place as the third party and the Company agree in sufficient quantities and appropriate rates and grades and at appropriate times to meet the requirements of the third party for at least the first ten years of its operations at a reasonable price and in determining a reasonable price regard shall be had to any comparable sales then being made by the Company and if there are no such sales, comparable sales (if any) then being made by other iron ore producers in the Pilbara area. The Minister may relieve the Company in whole or in part of its obligations under this subclause where the Company demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Minister that full or partial supply of the required iron ore is not practicable on economic or technical grounds.

The State shall ensure that notwithstanding the provisions of any Act or anything done or purported to be done under any Act the valuation of all lands the subject of this Agreement (except the accommodation area and any other parts of the lands the subject of this Agreement on which accommodation units or housing for the Company’s workforce is erected or which is occupied in connection with such accommodation units or housing and except as to any part upon which there stands any improvements that are used in connection with a commercial undertaking not directly related to the mining activities carried out by the Company pursuant to approved proposals) shall for rating purposes under the Local Government Act 1960, be deemed to be on the unimproved value thereof and no such lands shall be subject to any discriminatory rate and further as regards the mining lease that the unimproved value thereof shall be calculated on the basis that the mining lease is a mining lease under the Mining Act and not as land held pursuant to an agreement made with the Crown in right of the State and scheduled to an Act approving the agreement.

It is hereby declared and agreed that the provisions of section 533B of the Local Government Act 1960 shall not apply to any lands the subject of this Agreement.

Subject to the provisions of this Clause the Company may at any time assign mortgage charge sublet or dispose of to any company or persons with the consent of the Minister the whole or any part of the rights of the Company hereunder (including its rights to or as the holder of the mining lease (or the exploration licences referred to in recital (a) hereof if the mining lease is not then issued) or any other lease licence easement grant or other title) and of the obligations of the Company hereunder subject however in the case of an assignment subletting or disposition to the assignee sublessee or disponee (as the case may be) executing in favour of the State (unless the Minister otherwise determines) a deed of covenant in a form to be approved by the Minister to comply with observe and perform the provisions hereof on the part of the Company to be complied with observed or performed in regard to the matter or matters the subject of such assignment subletting or disposition.

Notwithstanding anything contained in or anything done under or pursuant to subclause (1) the Company shall at all times during the currency of this Agreement be and remain liable for the due and punctual performance and observance of all the covenants and agreements on its part contained in this Agreement and in the mining lease or any other lease licence easement grant or other title the subject of an assignment mortgage subletting or disposition under subclause (1) PROVIDED THAT the Minister may agree to release the Company from such liability where the Minister considers such release will not be contrary to the interests of the State.

Notwithstanding the provisions of the the Mining Act, the Transfer of Land Act 1893 and the Land Act, insofar as the same or any of them may apply —

no assignment mortgage charge sublease or disposition made or given pursuant to this Clause of or over the mining lease or any other lease licence easement grant or other title granted under or pursuant to this Agreement by the Company or any assignee sublessee or disponee who has executed and is for the time being bound by deed of covenant made pursuant to this Clause; and

no transfer assignment mortgage or sublease made or given in exercise of any power contained in any such mortgage or charge

The parties to this Agreement may from time to time by agreement in writing add to substitute for cancel or vary all or any of the provisions of this Agreement or of any lease licence easement grant or other title granted under or pursuant to this Agreement for the purpose of more efficiently or satisfactorily implementing or facilitating any of the objects of this Agreement.

The Minister shall cause any agreement made pursuant to subclause (1) in respect of any addition substitution cancellation or variation of the provisions of this Agreement to be laid on the Table of each House of Parliament within 12 sitting days next following its execution.

Either House may, within 12 sitting days of that House after the agreement has been laid before it pass a resolution disallowing the agreement, but if after the last day on which the agreement might have been disallowed neither House has passed such a resolution the agreement shall have effect from and after that last day.

In any of the following events namely if —

(i) the Company makes default which the State considers material in the due performance or observance of any of the covenants or obligations of the Company in this Agreement or in the mining lease or any other lease licence easement grant or other title or document granted or assigned under this Agreement on its part to be performed or observed; or

the Company abandons or repudiates this Agreement or its activities under this Agreement

the Company goes into liquidation (other than a voluntary liquidation for the purpose of reconstruction) and unless within 6 months from the date of such liquidation the interest of the Company is assigned to an assignee approved by the Minister under Clause 33

The notice to be given by the State in terms of paragraph (a) of subclause (1) shall specify the nature of the default or other ground so entitling the State to exercise such right of determination and where appropriate and known to the State the party or parties responsible therefor and shall be given to the Company and all such assignees mortgagees chargees and disponees for the time being of the Company’s said rights to or in favour of whom or by whom an assignment mortgage charge or disposition has been effected in terms of Clause 33 whose name and address for service of notice has previously been notified to the State by the Company or any such assignee mortgagee chargee or disponee.

(a) If the Company contests the alleged default abandonment or repudiation referred to in paragraph (a) of subclause (1) the Company shall within 60 days after notice given by the State as provided in subclause (2) refer the matter in dispute to arbitration.

If the question is decided against the Company, the Company shall comply with the arbitration award within a reasonable time to be fixed by that award PROVIDED THAT if the arbitrator finds that there was a bona fide dispute and that the Company was not dilatory in pursuing the arbitration, the time for compliance with the arbitration award shall not be less than 90 days from the date of such award.

If the default referred to in paragraph (a) of subclause (1) shall not have been remedied after receipt of the notice referred to in that subclause or within the time fixed by the arbitration award as aforesaid the State instead of determining this Agreement as aforesaid because of such default may itself remedy such default or cause the same to be remedied (for which purpose the State by agents workmen or otherwise shall have full power to enter upon lands occupied by the Company and to make use of all plant machinery equipment and installations thereon) and the actual costs and expenses incurred by the State in remedying or causing to be remedied such default shall be a debt payable by the Company to the State on demand.

On the cessation or determination of this Agreement —

except as otherwise agreed by the Minister the rights of the Company to in or under this Agreement and the rights of the Company or of any assignee of the Company or any mortgagee to in or under the mining lease and any other lease licence easement grant or other title or right granted hereunder or pursuant hereto (but excluding townsite lots which have been granted to or acquired by the Company and which are no longer owned by it) shall thereupon cease and determine but without prejudice to the liability of either of the parties hereto in respect of any antecedent breach or default under this Agreement or in respect of any indemnity given under this Agreement;

the Company shall forthwith pay to the State all moneys which may then have become payable or accrued due;

save as aforesaid and as otherwise provided in this Agreement neither of the parties shall have any claim against the other of them with respect to any matter or thing in or arising out of this Agreement.

Subject to the provisions of subclause (3) upon the cessation or determination of this Agreement except as otherwise determined by the Minister all buildings erections and other improvements erected on any land then occupied by the Company under the mining lease or any other lease licence easement grant or other title made under or pursuant to this Agreement shall become and remain the absolute property of the State without the payment of any compensation or consideration to the Company or any other party and freed and discharged from all mortgages and other encumbrances and the Company shall do and execute all such deeds documents and other acts matters and things (including surrenders) as the State may reasonably require to give effect to the provisions of this subclause.

In the event of the Company immediately prior to the cessation or determination of this Agreement or subsequently thereto desiring to remove any of its fixed or movable plant and equipment or any part thereof from any part of the land occupied by it at the date of such cessation or determination it shall give to the State notice of such desire and thereby shall grant to the State the right or option exercisable within 3 months thereafter to purchase in situ such fixed or moveable plant and equipment at a fair valuation to be agreed between the parties or failing agreement determined by arbitration under this Agreement.

The Company shall from time to time make application to the Commonwealth or to the Commonwealth constituted agency, authority or instrumentality concerned for the grant to it of any licence or consent under the laws of the Commonwealth necessary to enable or permit the Company to enter into this Agreement and to perform any of its obligations hereunder.

On request by the Company the State shall make representations to the Commonwealth or to the Commonwealth constituted agency authority or instrumentality concerned for the grant to the Company of any licence or consent mentioned in subclause (1).

The State shall exempt from any stamp duty which but for the operation of this Clause would or might be assessed and chargeable on —

this Agreement;

instruments of transfer under the Mining Act dated 30 November 1992 by Hancock Resources Limited to the Company of Exploration Licences Nos. 47/243, 47/308, 47/309, 47/427, 47/428, 47/429, 47/430, 47/431 and 47/597;

any instrument executed by the State pursuant to this Agreement granting to or in favour of the Company or any permitted assignee any tenement lease licence easement or other right or rights; and

any assignment sublease or disposition (other than by way of mortgage or charge) made in conformity with the provisions of subclause (1) of Clause 33

If prior to the date on which the Bill referred to in Clause 3 to ratify this Agreement is passed as an Act stamp duty has been assessed and paid on any instrument or other document or transaction referred to in subclause (1) the State when such Bill is passed as an Act shall on demand refund any stamp duty paid on any such instrument or other document or transaction to the person who paid the same.

Any dispute or difference between the parties arising out of or in connection with this Agreement the construction of this Agreement or as to the rights duties or liabilities of either party under this Agreement or as to any matter to be agreed upon between the parties under this Agreement shall in default of agreement between the parties and in the absence of any provision in this Agreement to the contrary be referred to and settled by arbitration under the provisions of the Commercial Arbitration Act 1985 and notwithstanding section 20(1) of that Act each party may be represented before the arbitrator by a duly qualified legal practitioner or other representative.

Except where otherwise provided in this Agreement, the provisions of this Clause shall not apply to any case where the State the Minister or any other Minister in the Government of the said State is by this Agreement given either expressly or impliedly a discretionary power.

The arbitrator of any submission to arbitration under this Agreement is hereby empowered upon the application of either of the parties to grant in the name of the Minister any interim extension of any period or variation of any date referred to herein which having regard to the circumstances may reasonably be required in order to preserve the rights of that party or of the parties under this Agreement and an award may in the name of the Minister grant any further extension or variation for that purpose.